‘Blood on our hands’

Speaking in support of composite 11 on mental health funding, Unite delegate and mental health nurse Ann Crozier today (September 11) highlighted how mental health services are needed now more than ever before, especially as they face swingeing cuts from the Tory government.

 
As a member of Unite, which includes the Mental Health Nurses Association (MHNA), Crozier explained how the government’s devastating cuts across public services, public sector real pay cuts, cuts to benefits and social security, along with the rise in insecure work have all contributed to a growing demand for mental health services at the same time as a sharp fall in mental health nurses.

 
“There has been a decrease of just over 5,000 mental health nurses since the Tories came to power in 2010,” she pointed out.

 
“Our members have warned that increased caseloads and staff shortages are leaving nurses at risk of burn-out, with them stretched too thin to provide the one-to-one care needed to avoid detentions under the Mental Health Act, which have increased.”

 
Crozier added that the closure of community health services has led people with mental health issues being unsupported as their mental health worsens.

 
“These have been the actions of the Conservative led government,” she said.

 
“So when earlier this year the government said they would be expanding mental health services we were sceptical to say the least,” Crozier added.

 
“Because when Jeremy Hunt speaks of the ‘historic imbalance’ between mental health services and other health services, he seems totally unaware of the significant part he is playing in continuing and worsening that imbalance.”

 
Crozier highlighted that even before the Tories’ cuts, mental health services were already underfunded.

 
The situation has become so dire, she said, that even the UK’s most senior family judge was moved to say recently that the country’s inability to provide care for a 17-year-old who self-harms will “leave us with blood on our hands”.

 
“This is a disgrace that this is the situation in 21st century Britain,” Crozier said, as she urged Congress to support the motion and continue the fight to achieve properly funded mental health services.

The motion was passed.